POTAG threatens strike over Book and Research allowances

The Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) is bracing itself for a possible strike action if government fails to resolve issues regarding book and research allowances for members.

Chairman of the Takoradi Polytechnic Chapter, Michael Appiah revealed that though the academic year has ended, the book and research allowance has not been released as agreed with government and its stakeholders.

He said the association has therefore issued a week’s ultimatum to the government to resolve the grievances of the association or have itself to blame for any action POTAG takes.

“We are not even expecting to strike [at the moment], but we are only saying that let’s ensure that once government says it is paying by the first week in July let’s ensure that we all meet the deadline,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa it would be recalled disclosed to lecturers and faculty heads of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on June 16 that the Finance Ministry had released GH ¢37 million for their research allowance.

But POTAG argues that the money is yet to hit their accounts after the disclosure for which reason they are threatening another strike action.

“We all heard the deputy minister that government has already released money for the payment,” he said, noting this announcement by the government has “given membership [of POTAG] expectation that the book and research allowance is going to pay very soon.”

“We are expecting that first week in July it should be paid,” Michael Appiah added